This is page numbers 1335 - 1380 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was work.

Topics

Members Present

Honourable Brendan Bell, Mr. Braden, Honourable Paul Delorey, Honourable Charles Dent, Mrs. Groenewegen, Honourable Joe Handley, Mr. Hawkins, Honourable David Krutko, Mr. Lafferty, Ms. Lee, Hon. Michael McLeod, Mr. McLeod, Hon. Kevin Menicoche, Mr. Miltenberger, Mr. Pokiak, Mr. Ramsay, Honourable Floyd Roland, Mr. Villeneuve, Mr. Yakeleya

---Prayer

Item 1: Prayer
Item 1: Prayer

Page 1335

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Good morning, colleagues. Welcome back to the House. Orders of the day. Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Mr. Dent.

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning. This is International Women's Day.

---Applause

International Women's Day was proclaimed by the United Nations in 1977 to celebrate progress made to advance women's equality and to reflect on the challenges ahead. This year the theme is Ending Violence Against Women: Action for Real Results. This theme is especially important to us as we know that violence against women in intimate partner relationships in the NWT is five times the national average.

Mr. Speaker, this government has taken significant steps over the last four years to reduce incidents of family violence. We responded to the Coalition Against Family Violence Action Plan with a government framework for action and have implemented almost all of the actions in that framework.

We are proud of our accomplishments to date. Examples of these accomplishments include:

  • • the implementation of the Protection Against Family Violence Act;
  • • the development of a first response protocol in Yellowknife; and
  • • a tool kit to help communities establish their own first response protocols.

However, Mr. Speaker, the real benefit has been the partnerships we have built along the way. Government cannot address incidents of family violence in isolation. Our community partners have the knowledge and the relationships to better analyze needs and potential solutions. Over the past three years, we have established strong working relationships with these partners through the Coalition Against Family Violence.

Since October of 2006, the Coalition Against Family Violence and the Government of the Northwest Territories have been working together to develop a phase II framework for action. Phase II will build on successes

from the first action plan and more completely address the needs of residents affected by family violence. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Members of the Coalition Against Family Violence for their work.

Mr. Speaker, partnerships with the other two territorial governments have allowed us to speak to the Government of Canada with one voice about the injustice of DIAND announcing increased funding for on-reserve shelters, but not increasing funding for shelters in the three territories that serve our aboriginal population.

As part of the annual International Women's Day celebrations, the Status of Women Council of the NWT acknowledges five women, one from each of our regions, who have been chosen by members of their community because of their contributions in advancing issues of significant importance to the North. I am pleased to have this opportunity to congratulate and recognize the recipients of this year's Annual Wise Women Awards. I would like to congratulate Rachael Mundy from the Beaufort-Delta; Bertha Deneron from the Deh Cho; Sue Heron-Herbert from North Slave; Julie Lennie from the Sahtu; and Dora E. Cardinal from the South Slave.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, these women have worked tirelessly in their communities. It is because of the commitment of individuals like these in the NWT that we see real action and, therefore, real change.

Mr. Speaker, this year has been established the year of action to end violence against women. I encourage each Member of this House to reaffirm their commitment individually and as MLAs to work towards ending violence against women in this territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Construction of the Tulita bypass on the Mackenzie Valley winter road...

---Applause

An Hon. Member

Holy Tulita!

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, I would like to report on the successful completion of a project in the Sahtu region; the construction of the Tulita bypass on the Mackenzie Valley winter road.

The winter road was originally constructed for community resupply and intercommunity travel. Quite naturally, it followed a route through town. In the early years, traffic was light and presented no serious concerns. However, as volumes increased, especially heavy truck traffic associated with the oil and gas industry, residents of Tulita expressed legitimate concerns about safety. At the same time, the motor carrier industry also began to raise issues about negotiating the narrow streets and steep riverbank.

During the spring of 2005, in response to the growing concerns, Department of Transportation officials held a series of public meetings to discuss and develop the Tulita bypass. In consultation with community leaders and residents, several routes were identified. A departure point from the winter road located approximately two kilometres east of the community was deemed the most practical. By March 2006, construction of the Tulita bypass had begun.

The construction of the Tulita bypass was enabled through the federal government's cost-shared Canada strategic infrastructure fund and the ongoing Mackenzie Valley Winter Road Grade Improvement Program. This program also funded the construction of a bypass route at Norman Wells, a similar project that was initiated as a result of safety concerns expressed by the community.

I am pleased to announce that the Tulita bypass is now open. Through-traffic moving up and down the valley is routed around the community. Only local traffic now enters Tulita.

Mr. Speaker, this project has truly been a joint effort of the community and the Department of Transportation. Community leaders and residents were consulted during all stages of the project, from the initial identification of the need to the completion of construction. Community members were involved in selecting the most suitable location for this bypass, participated in the regulatory process and assisted the department in securing the necessary permits to start this project. And finally, it was a local contractor that constructed the bypass. I would like to thank everyone from Tulita who was involved in this process.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to acknowledge the effort and support of the MLA for the Sahtu, Mr. Norman Yakeleya...

Some Hon. Members

Yay!

---Applause

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

...for his hard work to make this project a reality. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Lack Of Health Services In The Nunakput Communities
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1336

Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand it's International Women's Day today and I would like to congratulate the women sitting up there. Thank you.

However, Mr. Speaker, today my Member's statement is with regard to health services in my region. Mr. Speaker, the regional director and his executive staff in the Beaufort-Delta and my constituency assistant conducted a tour of Tuktoyaktuk, Sachs Harbour, Paulatuk and Ulukhaktok from February 15 to the 21, 2007. I understand the tour went very well and a number of issues were raised by my constituents to the regional director and his staff.

Mr. Speaker, I have raised this issue before in this House and once again it was raised by my constituents to the regional director and his staff regarding the lack thereof of health services provided to the Nunakput communities; in particular, Mr. Speaker, services for dental, doctor and eye clinics.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services, I understand, has contracts for both the dental and eye clinics. Both of these services provided are for about a minimum of four days in each community. The amount of time these clinics spend in the communities is not long enough to see the patients that require dental, doctor and eye care. Mr. Speaker, not only does it involve a number of days in the community, but it involves long hours for the dental, doctor and eye clinic to see patients in such a short time. This is unacceptable because we should deserve the same level of service as large centres.

Mr. Speaker, on the same issue, a visit by the doctor from regional health has the same problem with the amount of time the doctor visits the communities of Nunakput. We need the Department of Health and Social Services to review and revisit the contract for the dental and eye clinic teams and the doctor to stay longer in the communities, so that all residents have a chance to get a thorough check-up of their bodies, eyes and teeth. In order for the people of Nunakput to be healthy, we need to upgrade on the level of services.

Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Lack Of Health Services In The Nunakput Communities
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1336

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

International Women's Day
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1336

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In recognition of International Women's Day today, I would just like to take this opportunity to recognize and celebrate the work of individuals and organizations who work on a daily basis to improve the lives of women and their families and, in turn, the entire community.

Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize and celebrate the strength and determination of the women in all walks of life, whether they be the mothers and elders who volunteer countless hours in our schools and communities, or daughters I know who look after their aging parents through various illness, or the silent and unsung heroines of working mothers who hold full-time, paying jobs outside of the house but also manage to master the impossible juggling act of taking on two more full-time jobs at home, that being of a mother and wife

and, of course, Mr. Speaker, the single-mother families, who have to soldier on and carry the burden all by herself.

I would also like to recognize the women who forge on in the men's world, so to speak, of politics, banking or in our military. Mr. Speaker, I know we have two women in this House, but I don't know if you know that three of the five banks in Yellowknife are headed by women managers and I am sure everyone knows our top military brass, our very own Mrs. Chris Whitecross was recently promoted just last week to become the youngest woman one star general in Canada.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, I want to also recognize and celebrate the NGO organizations like the Status of Women Council of the NWT and the Native Women's Association of the NWT for the work they do in supporting women in all aspects, in combating violence, training women for better jobs, and speaking against discrimination against women and being always a strong voice in issues related to women.

Mr. Speaker, there are so many women in Yellowknife and in our communities who work to improve the lives of our women and families. I meet them and I am constantly inspired by them. Today, we will be celebrating and rewarding five wise women and I will have a chance to meet them personally and speak to them later on, but I would like to join the entire House in congratulations and acknowledging the work of Rachael Mundy, Bertha Deneron, Dora Cardinal, Julie Lennie and Sue Heron-Herbert. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

International Women's Day
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1337

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Women In Leadership
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1337

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on this International Women's Day, I want to talk about women in leadership. A question often asked of me as an elected woman is why aren't there more women in politics. This is an interesting question and I am not sure I know the answer to that question, but I hear people speculate about it.

One theory is that women don't support other women. I have to tell you that certainly has not been my experience. Another theory is that men don't support women. I have to say that neither has that been my experience. One other theory is that it takes a woman to champion women's issues. Mr. Speaker, I think if that were true then we would have to concede to the flipside of that, that women could not be expected to address a wide range of issues. I have personally heard many times in my 11 years in this House men stand and passionately speak to the issue of family violence, childcare, child protection and women's health issues over that period of time.

So I think we should not fall into the trap of trying to categorize men and women. I think we all have a role to play and women should be able to cover every issue that could possibly be raised in this House.

Mr. Speaker, maybe there are a lot of reasons why there aren't more women in leadership, but I don't think we can package it up categorically or absolutely and attribute it to any particular reason. I have been a Member of this House for almost 12 years and I can't think of a time when the gender factor in my relationship to issues or my constituency was an issue. Surely no one would support or not support someone solely on the basis of their gender. I prefer to think that the voters would look at the qualifications, attributes and experience of a candidate, and I would hope that they would. There are certainly many women in our communities that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in many areas with impressive credentials to take their experience to a new level of leadership.

Rather than pondering the past fortunes of women in leadership, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that the future does look brighter. When we look at our educational institutions in areas of medicine, science, engineering, and law, we see that the statistics in terms of the female participation in those areas of leadership is constantly growing.

So, Mr. Speaker, I, too, today would like to recognize the outstanding women of the Northwest Territories that are being honoured this year, thank them for what they do in our communities and with an upcoming federal and territorial election, I encourage people to...

Women In Leadership
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1337

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Your time for Member's statements has expired.

---Laughter

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Honouring The Contributions Of Women
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1337

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, want to congratulate all the women in the Northwest Territories and around the world because today is being recognized as their day. I think for myself every day is to be recognized as women's day.

---Applause

With all the work that they do. Mr. Speaker, I thought about it this morning as I was having my cup of coffee at 6:00 in the morning. Mr. Speaker, I thought about the women in my life, the women who had pushed me forward in my leadership. Most importantly, Mr. Speaker, I thought about my grandmother when she was young. I thought about the work that she did and the sacrifices that she made for us young men in my family and the men in my community. The sacrifice she made to...She was a midwife. She brought over 250 babies into our community. She was taught by a blind lady at 14 years of age. That's why I support the midwife program in the Northwest Territories. I thought about her wisdom and how gentle and quiet and how she ruled the house very quietly, and you respected women.

I thought about my mother recently, who told me stories of the strength of the women and the compassion they had for their people and how she brought me up, and the sacrifice she made so I could stand here and be in this House, and the joy on her face when she saw the first

time that I was elected by my own people. It was the women that are the true leaders of my people. It is the women that give life to our young boys and girls, our grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, then I thought about my wife and the joy I had when I was in the birthing room with her and I saw my little son breathe life for the first time. He's five years old. I saw the sacrifice of this young woman, how sacred they are and how sometimes we have such a disrespect for our women here. I thought the beauty that she's given life to my child, our child. It's women like that all over in the Northwest Territories that we really have to honour.

Especially every day, we should honour. They are hard-working women and they are the ones that are truly the leaders, no matter if it's in...(inaudible)...in the regions in our communities, they are really the ones we should really be careful how we speak about them because they're our sisters, our nieces...

Honouring The Contributions Of Women
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1338

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Mr. Yakeleya, your time for Members' statements has expired.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to, as well, recognize International Women's Day before I start.

Mr. Speaker, I want to speak today about the priorities of Members and how they don't always seem to fit into the priority list of Cabinet. Case in point is the review of the boards and agencies. Mr. Speaker, one of the top priorities of Members coming into the 15th Legislative Assembly was to do a comprehensive review of boards and agencies. Shortly after the election as a group, we supported the establishment of a Joint Special Committee on Boards and Agencies. On May 26th, 2004, the Premier announced in this House that the committee would be overseen by the former Minister of Health and Social Services and he also committed at this time to involve Regular Members in the process as part of an overall commitment to bring Regular Members into the decision-making process.

The committee was established in order to review the mandate, organization, and governance arrangements of existing GNWT boards and agencies. It was supposed to make recommendations on what reforms are required to ensure the board or agency fulfills GNWT objectives and provides effective programs and service delivery to GNWT residents. It would also make recommendations that would provide for a consistent framework for governance, accountability and fiscal arrangements.

It started off so well, Mr. Speaker. In fact, some of the best work I've ever seen from this government came in the first phase of this review. The bizarre thing is that the review was shelved over a year ago. Obviously the government seemed to have higher priorities, like the establishment of the macroeconomic policy division in the Department of Finance, or how they could miraculously find half a million dollars to sole source a contract at Human Resources.

If the decision was a matter of resources, why were we not informed of this? This work has to get done. It's of paramount importance as we navigate our way through the implementation of self-governments and what will ultimately become a new political reality here in the Northwest Territories. Obviously, with six months left in the life of this government, this work will not get done. If resources are scarce, why can't we task the regional directors with the responsibility to get this work done? They know the regions; they know the communities better than any newly established commission would here in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, I'll have questions for the Premier at the appropriate time. Mahsi.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Member's statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.

Honouring The Contribution Of Women
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1338

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are times when you take things for granted and on a day like today you get to thinking more and more about the contribution that women make to the lives of the people in the Northwest Territories. I'd like to stand today and honour that. There's so many times, Mr. Speaker, that I've seen women who are left to fend for themselves. I've known women that have left abusive relationships and are forced to start a life on their own with a large family. A lot of these women, Mr. Speaker, meet these challenges head on. I've known women who were widowed at a young age and again are faced with the challenges of raising a family alone.

Mr. Speaker, I've had the opportunity since I've been an MLA to speak at a few Aurora College convocations. One of the things that has always impressed me a great deal was the amount of women that were graduating while raising a family. Now, these are women in their mid-40s some of them, their late-30s. They have a family, but still they realize that to get a good life for their children, they go to school and they graduate and they go find a good job.

Mr. Speaker, there's an old saying, that behind every good man there is an even better woman.

---Applause

---Laughter

And that rings true in my case, Mr. Speaker. I'm here because of the faith that one person had in me and what I can do. So this is something that you don't really have an opportunity to think about and today is International Women's Day and we use this day to pay tribute to the contribution that women make across the Northwest Territories. But like my colleague from the Sahtu said, we must not just do it this day. I mean we must every day honour the contributions and be grateful to the contributions that women do make because years ago, Mr. Speaker, they did all the hard work and I've known a lot of women who are out working a job, trying to raise their families, their husbands in some cases are not

helping them, so they do make a sacrifice and I think that should be honoured. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Honouring The Contribution Of Women
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1339

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Member's statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Robert Villeneuve

Robert Villeneuve Tu Nedhe

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I'd just like to congratulate all the wise women recipients today too. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement yesterday I mentioned important reasons why industry has to work in unison with the First Nations on potential projects on traditional lands in order for these projects to proceed without obstruction or opposition. Today I read a story in the Hay River Hub about the negotiations between my First Nations band, the Deninu Kue First Nations, and Tamerlane Ventures hitting roadblocks on issues of great importance to the Deninu Kue First Nations, such as impact benefit agreements and socio-economic agreements, jobs, health and infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, the Deninu Kue residents have a long history with the Pine Point mine. Many residents still have strong feelings of the neglect and the blatant disregard for the land and the people displayed by the company that operated there for the 20-plus years that they were in operation. Sadly, Mr. Speaker, the legacy of Pine Point is one of pollution, contamination and cancer, and that is not something to be proud of.

The residents are well aware that times have changed. The technology is better for the people and the environment. Cooperation and consideration are at the forefront of partnerships. Remediation is a commitment. All good things and changes that we have to work together today with. But, Mr. Speaker, the one thing that you cannot put on paper that success and approval is based upon and is paramount in order to move forward on projects such as reopening a mine with a legacy such as Pine Point, is trust. This is something that is earned, Mr. Speaker, and not bought or negotiated.

So if Tamerlane wants to further develop what was one of the largest and most profitable lead zinc mines in Canadian history, start earning the trust by negotiating in good faith and on First Nations' terms and reasonable conditions. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Member's statements. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.